* JOHN LOWRIE MORRISON OBE (JOLOMO) (SCOTTISH b. 1948)
THE BIRLINN LEAVING THE UISTS

oil on canvas, signed and dated 2001, further titled, signed and dated verso
framed

image size 122cm x 122cm, overall size 144cm x 144cm

Provenance: Loaned to the Jolomo Studio for the John Lowrie Morrison Retrospective Exhibition June, July, August and September 2013 at The Clydebank Museum & Art Gallery. The Jolomo Studio receipt stated the title, date, size and confirmed the insurance value of £18,000 (as of 2013) which was covered by the Jolomo Studio in transit and then West Dunbartonshire Council during the period of the exhibition..
Note: The fact that The Jolomo Studio requested the loan of this painting for the major Retrospective Exhibition is further confirmation of how special the artist considers it to be. We understand that the composition relates to the Highland Clearances and shows a berlinn (boat) leaving the Uists, almost certainly for the last time, with islanders on board. The Uists are islands off the north west coast of Scotland and form part of the Outer Hebrides. When this painting was sold in The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on 13th December 2020, it sold for what at the time was the highest ever recorded auction price for a work by Jolomo.
Note 2: John Lowrie Morrison is arguably Scotland's most successful living artist. His paintings are enthusiastically collected throughout the UK and around the world. It is remarkably rare for a major exhibition piece such as "The Berlinn Leaving The Uists" to appear at auction, anywhere. McTear's is delighted to again be offering such a rare and magnificent example of Jolomo's work.
Note 3: Renowned for painting the West Coast of Scotland and capturing the unique light of the Hebrides. John's use of strong colours reflects the human spirit; light overcoming darkness. John Lowrie Morrison was born in Glasgow in 1948 and studied at Glasgow School of Art (1967-71). Since his first solo show in 1976 he has become phenomenally successful and is now Scotland's most popular contemporary landscape artist. In 2005 John established 'The Jolomo Foundation', a charitable body aimed at promoting and encouraging painting the Scottish landscape. John donates a percentage of his sales and art works to charity each year. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland and an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Abertay Dundee University, for 'A Significant Contribution to Scottish Culture'. John was awarded an OBE in 2011 for 'Services to Art and Charity in Scotland'. The following year, he and his wife Maureen were invited by HRH The Princess Royal to become Vice Presidents of Carers Trust. In 2013 over 20,000 people visited his major retrospective exhibition at Clydebank Museum and Art Gallery. John was awarded the 'Great London Scot Award' for Lifetime Achievement in 2017 and in 2018 was invited to luncheon at Buckingham Palace by HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip. In the same year he preached at Crathie Kirk, Balmoral in the company of HM Queen Elizabeth II. His work has been exhibited in USA, China and the throughout the UK. Four of John's paintings are in the Parliament Collection of the Scottish Government and his work is collected worldwide. Known collectors include Madonna, Sting, Simon Le Bon, Sophia Loren, Gregor Fisher, Lord Patten and Rick Stein. It is also reported that HM Queen Elizabeth II owned his paintings.